City of Many Santas

Though he's a permanent resident of the North Pole, Santa Claus really gets around this time of year. If your kids have been asking how Santa manages to hop from one mall to another, you can really blow their minds by taking them to St. Charles' Christmas Traditions, which boasts more Santas than Macy's and Gimbels combined. In a single holiday stroll, you may come across Frontier Santa, Victorian Santa, Kris Kringle and Saint Nicholas, or you may rub elbows with Civil War Santa, Father Christmas, the Scandinavian Santa, France's Père Noël, or even that bagpipe wielding blowhard, Scottish Santa. Which one is the real Santa Claus? That's for you and your kids to decide. St. Charles' Christmas Traditions' opening ceremony kicks off at 11 a.m. Friday, November 26, with the horse-drawn arrival of the many Santas at 400 South Main Street, St. Charles. The Christmas village is open Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 9 p.m. and varying hours Friday through Sunday (November 26 through December 26; closed Christmas Day). A snowstorm of nostalgic activities and parades are planned throughout the holiday season, so go to www.stcharleschristmas.com for all of the details. Admission is free.
Wednesdays, Fridays-Sundays; Sun., Dec. 26. Starts: Nov. 26. Continues through Dec. 24, 2010